Year 6 Shirts

I’m not sure if it is my interest in History, my rapidly increasing age or a natural curiosity, but I often find myself looking at the past and learning about the people who have gone before us, the lessons they leave for us and the legacy they leave on which we stand. Two of my daughters did Year 12 History and a part of that course was a project where they took an idea and explored various perspectives on the matter. They both chose topics from the Second World War. I was very keen they spoke with those who may have been present at the time and helped them organise some interviews with World War 2 veterans. I was fortunate enough to be present as they interviewed the men and listen in as they shared their stories, including the highs and lows. I remember the excitement and the high the girls were on as they left the interviews and how it provided wonderful inspiration and insight into life and the issues the Diggers faced and how we live life now.

It got me thinking about how much we owe those who have gone before us, how much we stand on the foundations they have laid and how great an opportunity this time of isolation might be for our children to connect with their grandparents or great-grandparents about their lives and experiences and challenging things they may have experienced in their lives. I can just imagine a family video calling other family members and sharing stories that can help build memories, belonging and resilience in our kids. I think of my own grandparents and wish I had done something like that.

These reflections also led me to reflecting on the sad news that one of our past, much-loved Prescott Primary Northern Principals passed away recently. Mr Mel Olsen was Principal here when my daughters attended and I was saddened to hear of his illness and passing. Mel was a man of great commitment and vision and we have been enjoying the benefits of his insight and drive for many years now. Mel oversaw much of Prescott Northern’s expansion through the 1990s and early 2000s including the current SWAN, SSO Room, Year 5 and 6 classroom wing of our school.

We would like to share our sincerest condolences with Mel’s wife, Dot, who also worked at our school, and with the rest of his family and say thank you for the years of dedicated service, wisdom and leadership Mel shared with us.

Have a great week with your kids,

Mark B

Don’t Run!

The door opened, and they ran!  

Have you ever had an experience like this? 

I was looking after my Mum’s toy cup poodles one afternoon and I had to take them to get a haircut. For some reason they hate the dog groomers. As soon as I parked at the groomers, you could see the two dog’s start shaking out of fear. I opened the car door to carry them inside, and they bolted! The groomer watched hopelessly as the two dogs barrelled down the road. I immediately chased after them.  

Do we ever do this? Do we run from fear?  Sometimes our worries or anxiety build up to the point that just makes us run without thinking. We may not literally be running away like the dog’s did, but we avoid certain situations or put off things that are difficult or scary.

There are two options when it comes to FEAR

Choosing option 2 has greater long-term benefits, but it can be difficult at times. One thing that is good to remember is that we are never alone. When we face situations, we are afraid of by venturing into them with God on our side, we are strengthened in His love for us.  He will give us peace even in conflict or in difficult and scary situations.

You may be wondering what happened to the two dogs that ran in fear.  Well, I chased them for 5 km all the way into town. I lost sight of them as they ran into the town caravan park. I searched around the tents and caravans for an hour and finally found them huddled under a caravan park cabin…..still shaking in fear!

May you all have a safe and blessed week,

Chaplain Phil

Learning from Home Support

We have just on 90% of our students learning from school now and so we will be reducing the level of Learning at Home resourcing from next Monday, unless there is a major development regarding school attendance. We will be sending out a Week Learning Guide with activities and some links etc., similar to what we provided in Weeks 9 and 10 last term, rather than Daily Guides. The Week 3 Learning Guide will be ready on line just before lunchtime on Monday, May 11. The reason for this change is simply the work required by our staff to support a full classroom learning program as well as supporting Learning at Home to the level we have over the past two weeks. Thank you for your understanding and we will continue to do what we can to support our families Learning at Home.

PPN Pick-Up Zone

The current restrictions on having families come on to school grounds to help control Covid-19 spread, has provided some extra challenges for us, particularly at pick up time. Our current process is for all students who are not on the buses or going to OSHC, to go to the Drive Through Pick Up Zone at the bottom of our Lower Playground.

We would like to refine this plan a little and divide the area into two parts. Please follow this link for a summary diagram https://pnorthern.click/pickup .  Students being picked up by cars going through the Drive Through and students being picked up by families who are parking and walking to pick up students. The location for students being picked up by car will remain the same. Students being picked up by families walking to the school, will be picked up at the small gate, just 20 metres to the east of the car pick up area. This is close by the car pick up, so we still have all of our students in a similar area for pick up, but should help speed up the process. Please let your child know if you are going to pick them up in the car, or by walking up to the gate in the morning before they come to school, so we can have an idea of where to place them for afternoon Pick Up. The back gate from the Church Car Park will not be open as we need staff to help out the front.

Some other requests we have to help traffic flow is no right turn off Nelson Road into the Drive through Zone, no queuing across the entry to the back car park, come a little later (after 3.35pm Mon – Thurs) if you would like a quicker, smoother pickup experience.

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is open for appointments only due to the current restrictions. Please call the Front Office to make your appointment on 8396 2577. EFTPOS is available but secondhand items and labels are cash only.  

Uniforms can also be purchased through flexischools.com.au and will be delivered to your child's class within 2 school days.

Term 2 School Uniform 

We have extended our usual 2-week changeover between summer and winter uniforms. There will now be a 4-week changeover. That means students can wear either summer or winter uniform to school (even PE uniform if needed) until the start of Week 5. We understand that things are up in the air at the moment and the fact that our uniform shop has been closed until recently and has limited appointments now has made the usual uniform transition impossible. 

No Mother's Day Stall

Due to COVID-19 restrictions there will be no Mother's Day Stall this year. 

Canteen Menu

There have been some minor updates to the menu since last week.  This is the current canteen menu.  Please note, no pizza this term.

Daily Health Check

General Update

It has been fantastic to see how many books have been returned this week to the Library.

A BIG THANK YOU to our students and parents/caregivers for their support and encouraging their children to develop a love for reading!

Best wishes to Mums

This coming Sunday is an opportunity for us all to celebrate Mother’s Day! From us here in the Discovery Centre, we want to say a heartfelt ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ to all our Mummies, Grandmothers and Aunties. May God bless each one of you!

Prescott College

Salisbury Council Parking Around Schools